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Copy 1 A Brief History of 



OLD CO. G 

in 

The Great War 



A BRIEF HISTORY 

OF 

APPLETON'S 



-OLD COMPANY G ' 

(Co. A, 150tli MacKine Gun Battalion) 



WITH THE 

RAINBOW DIVISION 

IN THE 

GREAT WAR 



Compiled from Letters written to his Mother by 
LIEUTENANT ALLAN B. ELLIS 



Copyright 1919, Meyer Press, Appleton. Wis. 



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'CI.A518409 

FEB 21 19/9 



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Dedicated to 

The Mothers, Wives and Sv^eethearts 

of the Boys of 

Old Company G 



EXPLANATION AND APPRECIATION 

By Major Byron Beveridge 



That the Rainbow Division was regarded as one of the "shock" divisions 
of the American army is plainly shown by the manner in which the 150th 
Machine Gun Battalion, to which Old Company G was attached, was shifted 
from one fighting front to another. 

A "shock" division consists of veteran troops which are rushed from one 
front to the other by rail, by trucks or by forced marches either to surprise 
the enemy who may think himself opposed by green troops, or to weaken 
the morale of the enemy. This latter effect is achieved by the sudden ap- 
pearance before him of troops who have defeated him in the past and whom 
he believed to be on another front. Divisions which do not come under the 
classification of "shock" troops are usually held in one particular sector 
or moved gradually from one sector to another as the fighting front changes 
and shifts. 

We, of the Thirty-Second Division, give the Rainbows credit for having 
put up a wonderful fight. They fought on as many fronts as any American 
division, in fact only one or two divisions saw action on as many fronts as did 
the Rainbows. They added to the glory of the National Guard of the 
country, for it was a strictly National Guard division, made up of the national 
guard from various states, and proved beyond all argument that the National 
Guard from all parts can depended upon to do its full duty. 

For the part played by Captain Graef's company we, who have seen 
numerous other machine gun companies in action and know the important 
part they play as well as the great dangers they encounter, have nothing 
but praise. 

While at the First Corps School last spring the writer met a machine gun 
instructor of the school's staff who had just returned from spending a week 
in the trenches with Captain Graef. In speaking of him the instructor said: 
"He is an excellent ofificer, has his men well in hand and is popular with them. 
He has a habit of walking through the trenches and jollying the men when 
they are under fire which has an excellent effect in keeping their spirits up." 



THE LAST DAYS OF THE WAR 

Dear Mother: 

November 22, 1918. 
Well! When I got back from Machine Gun school I found Captain 
Graef in command of the battalion, Major Smith having gone to hospital 
— . On my return, however, Captain Graef had me report back to the old 
company and I've been there ever since and I can't say I'm a bit sorry for 
the change, either. The work was very exciting for a while, but I had the 
satisfaction of assisting at the beginning of the last great American drive of 
the war and besides that, of being in at the finish of the same drive, for my 
platoon was supporting the advanced battalion of the old "fighting 69" 
(see Stars and Stripes) when that organization was relieved by the French 
in front of Sedan on the morning of the 8th of November and my guns were 
relieved by the Machine Gun company of the 150th French Infantry — quite 
a coincidence. We had three days of "honest to God" hard work previous to 
that day, chasing Fritz as hard as we could push. 

I was fortunate enough to be one of the first American officers in two of 
the villages we captured and I tell you none of the stuff the papers have to 
say about the people's joy at being delivered is a particle overdrawn. 

August Arens is reading a long German article out loud which intimates 
that Fritz had a lot of trouble with sick horses a short time ago. We are 
in a barracks, built by the French and occupied by the Germans till recently. 
They sure left it dirty but 'tis far enough behind the former lines to be intact 
and that's a great relief after living in "Fox holes" and ruins for two weeks. 
I have a whole hide and don't think anyone can say I haven't always been 
where I was supposed to be at all times. Every one feels, that the Guerre 
est finis and I can't see how Fritz can possibly come back, crooked as he is. 

I have a number of souvenirs, mostly papers, a Hun flag from the St. 
Mihiel salient, a couple of belt buckles, etc. Things are going nicely, clothing, 
food and equipment aplenty since we left the zone of combat. Nothing to 
worry about — not even subs on the way home. 

Each of the last three days has been full of interest. On the 20th we 
got into that portion of France where there was absolutely no sign of war, 
no shell holes, no ruined buildings, only numerous marks of German occupancy 
• — billeting marks on house doors, steel signs and filth. The church, a won- 
derful Gothic cathedral, built in the 14th century, had been used as a stable! 

At 3 o'clock the people gave the officers of the battalion a reception in the 
Ecole. On our arrival a girl garbed in white with a tricolor sash over her 
shoulder, presented Captain Graef with a huge bouquet. Several of the 
other officers were also given bouquets. We went into the school where the 
mayor made a speech. Captain Graef responded, the Marsellaise and Marche 
Lorraine were sung and toasts drunk to Amerique and La Belle France. 
I can't describe the ceremony, so heartfelt and simple and so very moving. 
No young men, only grey beards, women, girls and children. 

The next day, the 21st, we entered Belgium, were played in by one of the 
regimental bands. Every house in every town flew the tricolors of France 
and Belgium and the Stars and Stripes. I can't describe how touching it 
was to me to see the pitiful attempts of these war torn people to manufacture 
that beautiful flag. Some had the stripes vertical, some had no stars in the 
union, some only four or five round circles of white and now and Allan then ap- 
peared with one obviously hand made, yet perfect in every detail. 



Page Five 




CAPT. LOTHAR G. GRAEF 

Commanding Company G and part of time 150th Machine 
Gun Battalion. 



COMPANY G IN FRANCE 



Boevange, Luxemburg, Nov. 28, 1918. 

Dear Mother: — The Censorship regulations have been revised so much 
so that a whole year's operation is open to me as a theme. I will, however, 
confine myself in my movements, which are largely those of the Battalion, 
and touch on some of the more important incidents of this most eventful 
year. Inasmuch as this is Thanksgiving Day and the ordere covering the 
censorship only arrived last night, we have much to be thankful for. We 
have no turkey for dinner, but we have managed pretty well notwithstanding. 
Following is our menu — Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes with Brown Gravy, 
Creamed Carrots, Bread and Butter, Coffee, Coffee Cake. The coffee cake 
is the piece de resistance. Our own cooks bake it to perfection — using Lux- 
emburg yeast. We have that very necessary adjunct to good baking — a 
warm room to raise the sponge. 

NOW — We embarked on the U.S.S. Covington (afterwards torpedoed) 
on the 18th of October 1917, passing the three mile limit on the morning of 
the 19th. Arrived at St. Nazaire on the morning of November 1st. 

On November 6 we entrained having spent the intervening days on board 
ship. We detrained November 8 at Sauvor (near Vancoulers) marched to 
Boyee via Broussey (headquarters Department only, Co. B went to Brous- 
sey, Co. C to Maligny Le Grand, Co. A to Vacon.) We were met at the 
detraining point by Major Conway, the Brigade Adjutant, who broke our 
hearts by announcing that General Headquarters had decided to break up 
Machine Gun Battalions and give each Infantry Battalion a Machine Gun 
company. We were scattered on this account. Battalion Headquarters and 
each company being billeted with the Infantry battalion to which it was 
planned it would be united. We were within hearing of the guns of St. 
Mihiel and saw air fights quite frequently. We have laughed at our condition 
many times since, inasmuch as we had neither gas masks or helmets and were 
within a zone where their wearing was later rigidly enforced. On November 
25 Major Hall, the three Captains and the senior 1st Lieutenant of each com- 
pany went to 1st Corps school at Gondrecourt. This left me the senior 
Officer and nominally in command of the Battalion. 

The entire division moved on December 12. Company A and Battalion 
Headquarters going to Amanty (headquarters via Broussey, Villeroy, Mau, 
Vages, Rozieres and Badonviller). December 13 we marched to Brechain- 
ville via Gondrecourt, Dainville and Grand. Here we had our Christmas 
though we didn't get our packages till later. 

December 26 we marched to Ozieres via AiUiavville (where we picked up 
Company B, Co. A and Headquarters being together). Lafouche, Pres sous 
La Fouche, Semilly, Chalvaraines and Clinchamp. December 27 we marched 
to Bannes via Montigny Le Roy, Ferme de Chezoy and Frecourt. December 
29 — marched to Villiers les Aprey via Langers, St. Geosmes, Bourg, Lon- 
geau, and Baissey — At Villiers les Aprey we were rejoined by the officers 
who had been at school and on January 1 got our machine guns and mule 
carts (24 per company), 12 guns and 4 spare guns per company. Also got 
our Christmas mail and packages and the news that the battalions were to 
remain as independent units. All this time we were more or less under the 
infantry and it was more or less unpleasant. (Langres was the "fairy city" 
I described. It's on a high hill and was covered with a frost when we first 
saw it. Here are located the army schools and here I attended Machine 
Gun school in October.) 



Page Seven 



On January 22 Headquarters and Company A marched to Flagey via 
Baissey, Co. B to Flagey from le Havt, Co. C remaining at Areevaux. This 
consohdated things so that our training went on with number one speed. 
Here Company A 149th Machine Gun Battalion (Co. I 4th Penna.) was 
attached to us and later on assigned, making our battalion one of four com- 
panies. It becoming Co. D 150th Machine Gun Battalion stationed at 
Bourg. 

It would appear that pressure must have been applied as we were not 
expecting orders to go to trenches until March 1st. However — this movement 
was begun on February 18, the Battalion traveling by rail — Joe Marston 
and I went in the Battalion side-car going on the 18th to Luneville via St. 
Geosmos, Langres, Clefmont, Neufchateau, Mirecourt, Tentonville, Hardue, 
Bayon Haussonville and Blainville. We stayed at the Y.M.C.A. in Luneville 
overnight and in the morning being misdirected went to Moriviller, then 
back to Luneville where we got straightened out and found the new station 
Giriviller, getting there by way of Gerbeviller and Serainville. 

Gerbeviller has been given some prominence in the states. Several 
magazine articles having been written about it. Fritz burned it for spite and 
people in California are rebuilding. Frits did a good job — so did the Cali- 
fornians. However, Jacques insists on decorating the front yards of the 
pretty bungalow? with his marks of prosperity — dung heaps. 

Girviller was Battalion headquarters for some time. A and B com- 
panies going into the trenches near Luneville (Rouge Bouquet Sub Sector, 
the 165th Infantry (69th New York) and C and D Companies near Benaminil 
(to get to Company P.C. we rode from Benaminil to Blemercy via Domjevik) 
with the 166th (4th Ohio). Between Blemerey and Domoevin I had my first 
experience with shell fire and gas. Not dangerous but interesting. 

On March 10 Headquarters went to Benaminil by truck via Mattexey, 
Magnieres, Moyen, Vathemenil and Chenevieres. 

On March 22 Battalion Headquarters moved to Laronxe via Chenevier- 
res and St. Clement and went back to Giriviller via Chenevieres, Moyen, 
Vallois, and Serainville, on the 23rd. Here the Battalion was assembled 
and all plans made for a grand maneuver march back to the old training area 
(Battalion headquarters at Flagey) but the Hun offensive had begun. Persh- 
ing offered the French the use of all American troops and we took over the 
Baccarat sector as a division holding it, as you know 110 days, and being 
the first American division to hold a divisional sector. (When we first went 
in each of our four Infantry Regiments had a Battalion in line with a French 
Battalion sandwiched in between French 1 Battalion 165th, French 1 Batta- 
lion 166th, French 1 Battalion 167th, French 1 Battalion 168th. 

On March 29 the Battalion moved to Domptail in Mattexey Magnieres 
and St. Pierremont. This march was the first to be made by the complete 
Battalion (4 companies) as a unit. Here Company D was attached to the 
Infantry, the balance of the Battalion marching on the 31st, to Brouville 
via Fontenoy La Joute, Glonville and Azerailles. The other three companies 
left Brouville one by one to join the Infantry Battalion to which they were 
attached for trench service and on the 18th of April Headquarters went to 
the next village Merviller where Brigade Headquarters was located. Here 
we remained for two months attached to Brigade Headquarters while the 
165th and 166th alternated in line and division reserve and the Regiment 
in line alternated its battalions in line support and reserve. My work was 
interesting. Besides doing my routine work (I was relieved of the Supply 
Officer duty by Proudfit at Browville) I did aide-de-camp work inspecting 



Page Eight 




LIEUT. ALLAN B. ELLIS 

Adjutant 150th Machine Gun Battalion and part of time 
Commanding Company G 






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front line trenches — the towns where the Brigade was billeted, etc. (Just 
had dinner. Am "full-up" as Louis Lozier used to say. We had jelly-roll 
and a bottle of 1911 Rhine wine donated by August's (Lt. Arens'jlandlady in 
honor of the occasion). 

We pulled out of Baccarat area around the 18th of June — on that day 
I went ahead in side cars to Romont via Baccarat, Rambervillers to billet 
for Battalion and Brigade headquarters. On the 19th I went on to Moriville 
to billet. 

On the night of the 21-22 I went back to Merviller by truck to pick up 
a number of non-combatants we had left with the 77th division (New 
York's own) who had relieved us, as instructors in automatic weapons, and 
returned the night of the 22nd. 

On the 23rd we marched to Chatel sur Moselle where we entrained Hq. 
C and D on one train. San. Det. A and B on the other. After this all train 
movements were by sections Headquarters A and B on one San. Depart- 
ment C and D on the other. We went by rail to Champagne, detrained 
June 24 at a place called Coolus (near Chalons) marched via Mairy to Togny 
aux Boeufs. Here it was planned to drill and have maneuvers but we marched 
on the night of the 28-29 to a camp in the big maneuver ground "Camp de 
Chalons" known as "Camp Tombeau des Sarrazins" (Camp of the Sarecens 
Tomb). Via Mary sur Marne, Sarry-Chalons, St. Etienne au Temple and 
St. Hillaire au Temple. This latter place we will never forget. We got to 
know it better later. Camp Tombeau is where we had the photos taken and 
saw our first tanks (in demonstration). 

It was originBlly planned to use the division in a huge raid on Fritz south- 
west of Rheims going from the Chalons area to that place by Camion but 
Foch got wind of the Hun plan for the offensive of July 15th and the Battalion 
was marched to Ferme Suippes on the night of the 3rd of July via Vadenay 
and Vadenay Farms. Battalion Headquarters and Biigade Headquarters 
stayed at this point while the companies were again attached to the Infantry 
Battalions. (Company A to the 2nd Battalion 165th. Company B to 3rd 
Battalion 165th. Company C to 2nd Battalion 166th. Company D to 
3rd Battalion 166th.) On the night of the 13th we received a false alarm 
that the Hun attack was on and Machine Gun Headquarters moved to a 
splinter proof about ^ ■> kilometer from the Ferme. Nothing happened and 
we went back to the Ferme in the A.M. 

The night of the 14th (Bastile day) the word came at about 11:30 that 
the ball would begin at midnight, our artillery opened up and at midnight 
exactly, Fritz opened fire. We dug back to our hole in the ground but in the 
morning I went back to the dugout Brigade occupied and slept there the 
16th and 17th. Here is where Companies A and B received their baptism 
of fire. C and D being with reserve battalions. 

The night of the 18th the troops were relieved and moved back, Battalion 
and Brigade Headquarters going to St. Hilaire au Temple where Headquarters 
A and B entrained the night of the 21st. Fritz was aware of something 
going on and came over, and bombed us — hitting the depot and setting it 
afire and smashing up two cars — causing several casualties, both men and 
mules. Like Kipling's skunk everything that has ever been said about 
bombing planes is true. Deliver me from them hereafter. 

We went by train to Esbly (between Paiis and Meaux) on the 22nd 
and on the morning of the 23rd arrived and billeted at Conde, the prettiest 
town I saw in France. In the afternoon of the 23rd we marched to Veux 
through Meaux and La Ferte cous Jouarre, the companies rejoining their 



Page Twelve 



battalions at once — moved by Camion through Charly and Vaux (another 
one) Chateau-Thierry and Epieds Brigade and BattaUon Headquarters being 
at Courpoil — where I got my first belt buckle. I went by side-car. We 
were darn close on the heels of Fritz, his dead still lying unburied and it was 
rather unpleasant. 

The night of the 27-28 I was used by Brigade Headquarters as aide, 
in fact continued under General Leniken until the Ourc afYair was over. I 
went forward thiough Beauvardes to where the regiments were forming 
for attack then back to Beauvardes (a smelly hole — later cleaned up and used 
for Division Headquarters)then ahead to Chateau de La Foret. Stayed in 
this vicinity until the Ourc fight was over moving back several miles the night 
of the 29th to where the detachment was and where I met "Bev" the morning 
of the 30th. Back forward that morning to where we'd made a small shelter 
in a corner of Foret de Fere on the 28th (Chateau de la Foret is just south 
of Villiers sur Fere). 

Marched to Chateau Moucheton the 4th of August, the troops being 
at the time in Foret de Fere. This is the beautiful chateau I described and 
is near Epieds. On the 12th the Battalion assembled at Epieds and marched 
to Domptin and to Villiers sur Marne on the 13th. On the 16th we marched 
to Chateau-Thierry (Gare), via rail from there to Domblain where we de- 
trained on the 18th and marched to Vrecourt (Southeast of Neupchateau). 
Here we had a bath house and two days to loaf and clean up then a bit of 
drill and machine gun maneuver. 

Well, we left Stenay the 20th, going to Auioth via Chavenay, Montmedy 
and Thionville. Here we had the receptional I wrote about and at last got 
out of the fought-over-zone. 

The 21st we entered Belgium at Limes — Route, Breux, Fagny, Limes, 
Soye, Bellefontaine, St. Marie, Fratin. The 165th band played us over the 
line. November 22 we marched to Lischert via Bazenol, Chantemelle, 
Fouches, Loffert and Thiaumont. 

The 23rd we entered Luxembourg at Oberpallen and arrived at present 
station. Route, Bonnert, Oberpallen, Beckerich, Huttange, Noerdange, 
Rippweiler, Usseldange, Buevange. 

On the 26th I took a day off and went to the capital. Prices are rather 
steep and the rate of exchange — Francs for Marks — high, so I bought nothing 
in the way of souvenirs except the Madame La Guerre notices which I thought 
rather interesting. 

On the 28th the movement to San Mihiel was begun, all marching being 
done at night. Schedule follows: 

28th Bulgneville, 29th Viocourt, Sept. 4, Bois dela Faliere (bivouac), 
Sept. 5, Barizey la Cote, 7th Chaloy, 8th Bn. Hquts., to Bouc — Battalion to 
the woods south of Mandres and Tours (Foret de Reine) where headquarters 
moved the 10th. 

On the 11th (at night) we went into position for the attack which began 
the next morning. My route during the 12th was Seichprey-St. Boissant, 
Mazarin, Essey, Pannes, LaMarche, Pannes. I also picked up the Boche I 
wrote about on my first arrival at Pannes. The next A.M. headquarters 
moved to LaMaiche. I going forward to St. Benoit in time to find the fires 
lit by the departing Boche still burning, in fact, all along the line were villages 
on fire. On the 14th I established an advanced P.C.for the Battalion with 
Captain Graef at Ferme Sebastopol south of St. Benoit. Here I stayed 
until the 17th when the Battalion was relieved and fell back to Bois de la 
Belle Ozieres southeast of Nonsard, marching by way of Beney La Marche 



Page Thirteen 



and Nonsard. From here I went to Machine Gun School by rail at Langres 
on the 26th of September, arriving at Langres the 27th. 

Left Langres October 27th by rail. Arrived St. Dizier 28th. Slept 
until 10:00 a.m. Left that evening by rail. Arrived in the morning of the 
29th at Clermont, northeast of Verdun and went by truck to Battalion 
Headquarters in a springhouse near Apremont that evening and spent the 
night there. The Battalion had moved here about the 15th by camion 
and foot after having done a second trick on front line near St. Benoit. 

On the morning of the 30th I moved forward to Captain Graef's advanced 
P.C., he commanding the Battalion since the 27th of September. This was 
located on a hill known as Cote de Maldah about a kilometer south of Landres 
St. Georges. The brigade had been through hell here before we arrived, but 
we enjoyed our part in the attack of November 1st (as machine gunners), 
which consisted in assisting in a perfect hell of a barrage. Later we had the 
pleasure of learning that "the artillery drove the Huns out of their dugouts 
and the machine guns drove them back in", and still later moved from the 
Sedan front back over the ground which had been traversed by the barrage 
and found it to be as full of shell holes as the moon is of craters and every 
tree marked with machine gun bullets. 

Immediately after the barrage ceased (it lasted from 3:30 until 5:55) 
we packed up and fell back — mighty glad to do so too. Two days in a fox 
hole was bad enough and the Battalion had been there 21 and the weather 
very nasty. We bivouaced near the spring house at Apremont the 1st 
and 2nd marching on the 3rd to Verpel via Fleville, St. Juvin and Champig- 
neulle on the 4th to a ferme west of BrieuUes via Thenorgues, Briquenay, 
Germont, Authe, Brieulles and Authe. We had to counter march through 
Authe on account of the road leading to our original destination (beyond 
Brieulles) had been blown out where a ravine had been filled, some of the 
mine-craters being as big as a house. 

On th^ 5th we passed through the 78th Division and began our advance 
on Sedan, passing through Brieulles and bivouacing in a ravine in the Bois 
de Mont Dieu. Did no firing the first day but went into position three times. 
The second day, 6th, I was assigned to the 168th (69th N.Y.) as liaison officer 
and think I mentioned some of my experiences in a previous letter. We 
passed through Maisoncelle and Bulson, the advance line running through 
Ferme St. Quentin. I went back to the company and slept in a little grove 
east of Historia Ferme. The best fun I had that day was sniping at two groups 
of Huns with a Springfield, range 1200 yards, and making 'em hunt cover. 
The scuts had two guns mounted right under a white flag in a group of deserted 
hangars. We had come to accept the white flag as an indication of the 
presence of civilians and not of surrender, but the crime is in my eyes even 
greater. However, we made 'em hunt their holes. 

On the 7th the drive on Sedan ended. I moved the Company to Ferme 
St. Quentin, where they shelled us. Capt. Combs was reconnoitering. Fell 
back a bit and later moved my platoon forward and had the satisfaction of 
using my two guns and three German Maxims in driving out a gang of Huns. 
Latei relieved Lt. Crawhall on Hill 252, in easy rifle shot of Sedan. Spent the 
night there, nasty place, will tell you about it when I get home. 

Next day, Nov. 8, the 150th French relieved us, we marched to a bivouac 
southeast of Maisoncelle passing through Chaumont, Bulson and Maisoncelle. 
the 29th we marched to Le Petite Armoises via Maisoncelle. Chemery and 
Tannay, on the 10th to Fontenoy via Brieulles and St. Pierremont. 

Nov. 11 we marched to Thenorgues via Bar and Buzancy. Here we 
learned that evening of the signing of the armistice and our choice as one of 
the Divisions of the Army of Occupation. 



Page Fourteen 




LIEUT. AUGUST A. ARENS 

Company A, 150th Machine Gun BattaUon 
Wounded in action 



The 13th we marched to Landres St. Georges via Sevry, and Imecourt. 
where we bivouaced. The weather was cold but it was our last bivouac. 

The 16th we marched to Clery le Petite via Bantheville (flat to the earth) 
Rinerville and Clery le Grand and the 17th Stenay via Sassey and Mouzay. 
Here we rested up and drew clothing and equipment and I took command of 
the old company. Capt. Combs going to C Company. I'll never be a 
captain, but I had the satisfaction of riding at the head of the old outfit 
when we passed into Belgium and Luxemburg. Possibly my luck will 
hold till we enter Hunland. The War Department has adopted a policy 
of making no more promotions and, of course, Captain Graef is blocked from 
being Major. Major Scott has just been made a Lt. Colonel. He was 
here a day or two ago. 

THROUGH BELGIUM AND LUXEMBURG 

Boevange, Luxemburg, November 28. 

These last two days have brought me "beaucoup" mail, including all 
that which has been forwarded me when at Langres at Machine Gun school. 
By the way, the name of the Fort there where we were stationed was "Con- 
stance Chiore" Auct Peigney, the Auct standing for ancient, the site being 
the scene of a battle between the original Huns and the Romans, in which 
the latter won — Fritz never entered the town in 1870 nor in 1914-18. The 
place is never called by its newer name, always being known as Fort Peigney. 
It was completed in 1875. Another point, the farm where we were quartered 
around July 15 in Champagne was a "stud" built by Napoleon Third, all 
the doors and windows had keystones of the letter "N" and over the principal 
door was a more ornate one. 

We leave tomorrow for Fischbach, a march of 13 kilometers (eight and 
one-half miles), not a hard hike, and the men are in much better shape than 
when we started from the old French barracks at Stenay to cross Belgium 
and enter Luxemburg. Our march will consist of six or seven days of hiking 
followed by a period of rest, then hike, then rest again till we get there, our 
destination is in the vicinity of Coblenz. 

We anticipate no trouble but are prepared for all eventualities. During 
the stop here we have drilled and instructed daily and will continue the work 
at the next stop. The men were badly in need of disciplinary drill, owing to 
the large percentage of replacements who seemed fated to always arrive just 
before a push and who had never had close order drill since arriving, but the 
company picked up with remarkable speed and is as well disciplined and as 
courteous an organization as you'd care to see. It would delight General 
King to see us do close-order, though the lack of rifles reduces the snappy 
appearance a well drilled infantry company presents. We have for brigade 
commander Brigadier General Caldwell, who commanded the 4th Wisconsin 
in '98 and was an inspector later. That puts the 42nd Division brigades under 
Wisconsin men. MacArthur (a "first class fighting man") having the 84th. 
MacArthur commanded the division for a time and Colonel Henry J. Reilly 
the 83rd, but the war department decision not to promote caused their return 
to their old outfits and they put General Flagler in command of the division. 

Speaking of generals, I was with Liggett for a moment or two when on the 
Ourc. General Lenihan had sent me forward to an observation post to 
watch the attack of our brigade. I couldn't see our own, but could see 
the 84th brigade go through the wheat towards Sergy. It was more like a 
movie battle than reality. Our barrage advancing steadily, the men follow- 
ing at a steady walk, the Hun barrage dropping on them, many falling, the 
line advancing steadily and surely. 



Page Sixteen 




LIEUT. L. HUGO KELLER 

Assigned to Company A, 150th Machine Gun 
Battalion in France. 



I could write volumes of the wonderful old Gothic cathedral at Avioth 
in France near the Belgian border. And my visit to the beautiful city of 
Luxemburg, not as medieaval as McCutcheon's description in "Graustark" 
but full of wonderful crooked streets and beautiful buildings all alive with 
flags, not as many allied banners as Belgian but quite a number, especially 
French and Belgian, and the people are friendly. Many talk English and 
have relatives in America. One Luxemburger told me there were 250,000 
in America and only 150,000 in Luxemburg. 

IN GERMANY AT LAST 

Peffingen, Rhine Province, December 3, 1918. 

In Germany at last. For twenty minutes we marched beside the rail- 
road, high cliffs on our right and on our left, beyond the tracks the rushing 
Sauer. Then a sharp turn to the left past the last building flying the red, 
white and blue of the Grand Duchy and across a bridge past our General 
and we were in the "enemy's country." Our march continued about two or 
three hours when we arrived at this little village. It took some time for 
Captain Graef to find the Burgomeister and make arrangements and I went 
forward to find Co. B billeted and the Burgomeister busy with Co. C. I 
was astounded to learn from Mr. Coen, the "Y" man, that the Burgomeister 
was putting only about half as many men in a billet as it would hold, so all 
the people could have some Americans! I went around with him when he 
billeted me and was everywhere greeted with smiles. I could have imagined 
myself still in Luxemburg were it not for the pictures of men in the uniform 
I learned to hate so on the walls. It's simply incredible, during the day I 
had seen very few people with scowls on their faces but hadn't been prepared 
for hospitality. 

Sergeant Rehner arranged for a room beside the rolling kitchen for the 
officers' mess and the owner, only two weeks out of the army, and his son 
killed, himself spread a white cloth, brought us fresh bread, butter, home 
made prune jam, preserved apples and china plates and cutlery. And his 
sole resentment seems to be against the authorities who caused the war as 
an institution' I can't explain my feelings, they are something akin to pity 

Nieder Adenau, Germany, December 10, 1918. 

Some ground we've covered since last I wrote. We're not letting the 
grass grow under our feet. Here follow-s the route: 

Dec. 5 — Ehlenz, via Wettlingen, Bettingen, Oberweis, Rittersdorf. 

Dec. 6 — Budesheim, via Schleid, Seffern, Lasel, Reuland, Wetteldorf, 
Hersdorf, Wallersheim. 

Dec. 7 — Belsdorf-Lissingen, Gerolstein, Bewingen, Dohm, Lammersdorf. 

Dec. 8 — Udelhoven, via Hillesheim, Weisbaum, Mirbach, Dollendorf, 
Ahrhutte. 

Dec. 9 — Nieder Adenau, via Ahrdorf, Dorsel, Musch, Antweiler, Fuchs- 
hofen, Schuld, Insul, Dumpelfeld. 

My note book says Billet No. 79 — that counts fox holes, etc., which are 
not really billets, and it don't count trains where I've slept many nights. 
Well, I don't expect we'll be at it much longer. We don't know our destina- 
tion but we can't go much farther. We can make the Rhine from here in 
about three days. Our latest hunch is that we're going to or near Bonn, 



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which the Germans say is even prettier than Coblenz. I'd hke to see the 
latter though, or the Rhine at least. 

The people still continue to do everything to make us comfortable, 
though none have done quite as much as that chap at Peffingen. The 
official "Summary of Intelligence" seems to think this attitude is an assumed 
one and underneath there is a feeling of resentment which crops out when 
the people become excited or angry. They mention the case of a "Fraeulein 
Grunert," late of Metz, the daughter of a Prussian officer. She left Metz 
on account of being bombed too much. She said the bombing planes had 
done a geat deal of damage at Metz-Sablonsm so your wish that the terror 
the Huns brought to Belgium be carried back to them was partly taken 
care of. 

The weather lately has been pretty much in our favor. Most of the 
time there's a fog, but we have had no snow or freezing weather. However, 
I expect winter will be down on us most any day now. Hope it waits till 
we get to our destination. 

The deep ravines we encountered in Luxemburg we see no more, but we 
are in what I suppose they call mountains, and have climbed some hills. 
Roads on the whole are good, though somew-hat cut up in places. No care 
for four years and 600,000 Germans passing over 'em don't improve roads. 
(I said "they call mountains." To me nothing is a mountain without snow 
on top.) 

I have, of course, not named all the towns occupied by units of the 
battalion. I know nearly all of these and they will speckle up the map to 
satisfy anyone. 

1st Sergt. Lutz just counted up. We have 66 men and three officers in 
the battalion who saw service in the company on the border and sixty-five 
men and three officers who were on the roll when we left Camp Douglas for 
Camp Mills. The rest not killed are scattered all over France and some are 
back home. 

And today has been a triumphal procession. Every town was lined with 
people and a mass of streamers, tows of evergreens trimmed with colored 
papers and ribbons, even triumphal arches, had been erected in some of the 
more enterprising villages. In one town a woman gave me a bit of worsted 
with the colors of Belgium. I wore it all day and enclose it herewith. 

The men get coffee and bread as soon as they hit their billets (American 
Red Cross relief for the Belgians}, but the Huns took the white flour we sent 
and gave them black bread. 

The sound of the joyful cries of Vive L'Amerique and Vive les Americans 
still ring in my ears and how the bells pealed forth. I am repaid for my 
poor sacrifices. 

I've got writers cramp. Have spent all day on this taking the dope 
from my note book. There may be a few slight errors and I didn't put down 
the route of march in some cases. I remember it when I see the map, how- 
ever, and can straighten it up when I get home. 

I suggest that you get a large scale map of France, and look the towns 
and routes up. Perhaps it won't interest you to do so. Anyway it's written 
and I'll forward it with a daisy I picked on November 6th near Haisoncelle. 
Am sending some other things in another envelope. 

Lovingly, 

ALLAN. 



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